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USPS Service Kiosks Taking Pictures of Customers

Posted by michael on from the say-cheese dept.

NW writes "According to FOIA documents obtained by EPIC new Postal Service self-service postage machines take portrait-style photographs of customers and retain them for 30 days." IBM is the contractor behind the kiosks. Note that the kiosk is supposed to not complete the transaction if it determines the photograph has been compromised, so simply covering the camera is unlikely to work. As the cost of cameras and digital storage approaches zero, is it inevitable that every machine you interact with will take your photograph and store it?

16 of 650 comments (clear)

  1. Fun ideas... by M3rk1n_Muffl3y · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about wearing GWB rubber mask? or even Nixon for that matter.

    Return of the ex-presidents.

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    1. Re:Fun ideas... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, wearing a President's mask into a federal building seems like a good idea.

      What could possibly go wrong?

    2. Re:Fun ideas... by Fallen+Kell · · Score: 4, Funny

      That is what I first though when I saw this. Better still, hold up a photo of Ben Franklin since he was the first Post Master as well as a stouch proponent for privacy.

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      We were all warned a long time ago that MS products sucked, remember the Magic 8 Ball said, "Outlook not so good"
  2. Not just for sex anymore... by skaffen42 · · Score: 3, Funny

    So does this mean that a paper bag over the head is not just for sex anymore?

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    People couldn't type. We realized: Death would eventually take care of this.
    1. Re:Not just for sex anymore... by ideatrack · · Score: 4, Funny

      Terrance: Oh Celine Dion, what have you done? I was going to make us a family again, but now you've slept with Ugly Bob.
      Celine Dion: What do you mean? Why are you calling him Ugly Bob?
      Phillip: Because that's his name you stupid bitch.
      Celine Dion: You told me your name was Handsome Bob.
      Terrance: Look at him Celine Dion.
      Phillip: Behold, his horrible face.
      Celine Dion: Oh my God, he's heinously ugly, and I am pregnant with his child.
      Terrance: What? Noooooo.
      Celine Dion: I'm going to have a freak-baby.
      Phillip: Oh, the humanity.

    2. Re:Not just for sex anymore... by skaffen42 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Damn. I thought I'd turned the webcam off...

      :)

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      People couldn't type. We realized: Death would eventually take care of this.
  3. Finally... by alienmole · · Score: 5, Funny

    A privacy issue my g/f will care about. She hates having her photo taken!

  4. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  5. hotornot by donaldgelman · · Score: 5, Funny

    Clearly this is simply because USPS wants to make their own version of hotornot

  6. This would be ok if... by Ingolfke · · Score: 5, Funny

    The stamps were printed with my portrait on them.

  7. Considering the pics are being stored on XP. . . by smooth+wombat · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think the 30 day storage timeframe is pretty optimistic.

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    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  8. The Cost of Convenience by handy_vandal · · Score: 4, Funny

    As the cost of cameras and digital storage approaches zero, is it inevitable that every machine you interact with will take your photograph and store it?

    Yes, it is inevitable. Dammit.

    Thank God the cost of anal probes and specimen storage is not approaching zero.

    - kgj

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    -kgj
  9. Re:It's not a stamp machine, it's a post office by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 5, Funny
    The kiosks in question aren't stamp machines (which have been around for 40 years or more), but a complete self-service post office.

    The cameras were originally included to solve one of the hardest technological problems with faithfully implementing a mechanical post office. It's necessary for the machine to recognize when the line of waiting customers has filled the entire lobby and is just starting to snake out the front door. That's the precise time that the machines need to pop up the cardboard "Closed" sign on all but one of their stations.

  10. Re:Also by jpsst34 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Suck my dick!" --Ron Jeremy

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  11. Re:No such word by Proteus · · Score: 5, Funny

    stouch (adj.) So staunch, it hurts.

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  12. Sure way to get your picture noticed: by MrNiceguy_KS · · Score: 4, Funny
    Wear a gas mask while mailing packages.

    Back in college, I had a gas mask I had picked up at an army surplus store. You have no idea how much fun you can have walking around in public wearing a gas mask. I think the best was when I walked up to the Information desk at a book store and asked if they had any books on paranoia.

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